Wheatstone LNG Terminal

The associated downstream dredging works comprised dredging a 17-km approach channel, a swing basin, berth pockets, a tug harbour, and related infrastructure. Total dredging volume exceeds 26 million m³.

IMDC provided on-site environmental assistance to the project environmental team of DIAU from the project award to completion. Multiple valuable coral reef sites and sea grass sites surround the dredge area and necessitate strict environmental regulations. An operational sediment plume forecasting system was being set up to assess the effects of forecasted dredging works on the impact sites as part of a pro-active adaptive environmental management system. This system is called the Ecological Proactive Adaptive Management system, or ECOPAM. This online and offline DSS has been used to study the impact of dredging operations in real-time situations and facilitate forecasting of impacts of planned dredge works. Environmental assistance consisted of: 

• Writing up project environmental plans and procedures
• Coordination of environmental team
• Study of Sediment Plume Behaviour and Impact on Coral Reef Sites
• Waste and Oil Spill Management
• Setting up an environmental Measurement Campaign and real-time data gathering, interpretation and reporting
• Commercial and Contractual interface within DEME team, lead contractor, client and subcontractors
• Providing EcoPAM operators